Simple screening tool devised to diagnose ovarian cancer

24 September, 2012

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), recommends a routine screening for ovarian cancer in women. This applies to all the women. As there are no symptoms for ovarian cancer in the early stages, it is better to have a routine screening which will help to detect the disease at an earlier stage and the patient will be provided with the treatment at the early stages. This increases the scope of recovery from the disease.

OVARIAN CANCER is known as the 'silent cancer', because it is very difficult to predict if a person is suffering from ovarian cancer. Even developed countries like the United States don't have the techology to detect 70 percent of women suffering with this disease. And this is the reason why the death toll is high in ovarian cancer patients.

However, research done by the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center in Seattle, has resulted in a simple screening tool that will change the scene. This simple screening tool can be used in the Doctor's clinic, and you don't need to go to a sophisticated diagnostic center to test fo ovarian cancer. Basically, it is a paper-and-pencil survey that includes three questions and takes just two minutes, but this will help the physician to decide whether you are at a risk of having ovarian cancer or not, reported The Times of India.

The three screening questions will be:

Weather you are suffering from abdominal pain or pelvic pain?

If you are feeling full or unable to eat quickly?

Are you experiencing abdominal bloating or increased abdomen size?

The research can find 80 percent of cases with advanced disease and 60 percent of cases with early stages of ovarian cancer.

The ovarian cancer symptoms are not specific to the disease, but the characteristic symptoms of ovarian cancer are abdominal pressure, fullness, persistent indigestion, swelling, gas, constipation, increased abdominal girth, pelvic discomfort, persistent lack of energy and low back pain. Some of the rare symptoms of ovarian cancer can be shortness of breath, feeling of frequent urination and unusual vaginal bleeding.

The treatment of ovarian cancer mainly depends on its diagnosis report. But this diagnosis may lead to stress in some women, so it is advised to the family or friend of the patient to go along with the patient to the diagnostic center. The treatment of ovarian cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, and a combination of surgery with chemotherapy and radiotherapy is used very rarely. Finally, the treatment of the ovarian cancer depends on the the type of cancer, the stage and grade of cancer and general health of the patient.

The medications used for ovarian cancer for chemotherapy are Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Docetaxel. The other medications for ovarian cancer are Doxorubicin, Gemcitabine, Topotecan, Cyclophosphamide and Oxaliplatin.